Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma
Chao-Shiang Li1, Ran-Chou Chen, Jiunn-Ming Lii
1Department of Radiology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan.
Objective:
To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods:
We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study. The signal intensity of each lesion was categorized as hyperintense, isointense, and hypointense with reference to the surrounding liver parenchyma.
Results:
Thirty-one (93.9%) of 33 well-differentiated HCC were demonstrated on the MRI. The remaining 2 were isointense in all magnetic resonance sequences and, therefore, could not be identified. Most of them were hyperintense (n = 15 [45.4%]) or isointense (n = 16 [48.5%]) on T1-weighted imaging, and hyperintense (n = 12 [36.4%]) or isointense (n = 17 [51.5%]) on T2-weighted imaging. On the dynamic study, 17 lesions (51.5%) were enhanced.
Conclusions:
MRI may identify most well-differentiated HCC; however, the imaging appearance is diverse. Biopsy should be performed if magnetic resonance study is inconclusive.
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